Chapter 77

- "Wow," I involuntarily exclaimed.

- "It's too early for you to look there," the kunoichi lightly tapped me on the nose.

- "Actually, I was looking at the scar," I snickered in response, "what caused it?"

- "A kukri."

Hmm, a rare weapon, mainly shinobi prefer to use various types of swords or the standard set of kunai and shuriken. And something exotic like Hidan's scythe isn't encountered so often, especially at a level of mastery that presents a sufficient threat to an experienced shinobi.

- "So...?" I looked at her questioningly.

- "My name is Keiko," the kunoichi introduced herself, "and if I didn't mishear, you mentioned Rasengan? The only one besides Sai who knows how to use such a technique is his son. So you're Ryo Nara?"

- "Indeed, I am," I confirmed, not understanding where she was leading.

- "Then it was you who applied her seals as well, including the one on the solar plexus?" Keiko continued.

- "Well, yes, and how do you know about them?" I squinted suspiciously.

- "Your mother and I were on a joint patrol, which ended yesterday evening, that's how I found out from her personally," she replied, "and I wanted to clarify, how much would it cost to apply the same ones for me?"

- "Mom's home?!" Jumping up, I highlighted the main point and grabbing the fallen towel, rushed out of the water, shouting to the surprised woman as a parting remark, "Ask her about the seals, and then come talk to me!"

Somewhat bewildered, the visitors to the hot springs just watched the red-haired boy disappear, while the splashes he raised in the air continued to fall into the water.

- "The kid is very fast for his age," Hyuga smirked.

- "A desirable suitor is growing up for someone," another shinobi echoed him and, smiling at the whispering young kunoichi, winked, "clans won't hesitate to fight for such a one."

- "And I didn't even have time to negotiate about the seals properly," Keiko sighed in annoyance.

- "You think the Naras will let him go to their side without a fight? Since all the Uzumaki left Konoha, it's almost impossible to find a true expert in seals, even considering the famous longevity of the redheads," the third kunoichi shook her head.

- "Who knows? So far, he's only applied them to his own mom, so if he gets her permission, it might work," Keiko shrugged in response, concluding the topic.

***

- "Mito-ba-chan, I'm here," knocking on the frame of the entrance door, I entered the house, paying no attention to the unpleasant sensation of passing through an insanely strong and complex barrier.

I bet it could withstand a direct hit from even a tailed beast bomb executed by the Nine-Tails a couple of times, if not more. After a certain period of time, all Uzumaki prefer to specialize in some particular area of fuinjutsu simply because there isn't enough time to delve deeply into other areas, even considering the famous longevity of the redheads.

And it pleases me greatly that almost her entire seal library passed to me. As ma explained, everyone expected grandma to die almost immediately after resealing the Nine-Tails, and there would be someone to lay their hands on her knowledge.

Damn, I'm ready to bet my gift katana that the cursed silence seal of Danzo and Orochimaru's experiments with the sky seal originated from there. By the way, it's interesting, will Jiraiya become a master of seals, or will he fail with my intervention?

I should hammer it into Kushina's head that Uzumaki knowledge can only be passed down to our own, and everyone else can go to hell, even if it's a future husband, if there ever will be one. And get Mito involved in this too. Of course, it will ruin Hiraishin no Jutsu at its roots, but if I stole Rasengan, what's stopping me from continuing the tradition?

After all, without Kushina-chan's help, "genius" Minato wouldn't have come up with any of his famous jutsu. So let him try to create something of his own only with the existing capabilities, without relying on Uzumaki. However, one needs to live to that moment, so there are other concerns at the moment.